IR35 Reform for Public Sector Workers

As summer drew to a close, so did HMRC’s consultation on proposed changes to the intermediaries legislation for off-payroll workers in the public sector.This planned reform of the IR35 rules was announced by the government in the 2016 Budget.

The crux of the matter

It is proposed that, from April 2017, public sector workers operating their own limited company (also termed Personal Service Company or PSC), will no longer be responsible for determining the IR35 status of their contract.

Instead this will fall to the recruitment agency, public sector employer or other third party who is contracting with the individual’s limited company. If IR35 applies, the party who pays the PSC will also be obligated to make appropriate PAYE tax and NIC deductions and carry out the associated reporting requirements through RTI.

It is further proposed that if the recruitment agency or public sector body is found to have assessed IR35 status incorrectly, they will be liable for underpaid tax and NIC and any interest and penalties.

HMRC have expressed an intention to create an online tool to help determine whether IR35 applies to an assignment – this is expected to be available in late 2016.

Who will be affected?

Anyone working in the public sector through their own limited company (PSC), including:

Social workers

Teachers & lecturers

Local authority workers

NHS workers

Police & armed forces

Other public bodies including television broadcasters BBC and Channel 4

What does it mean?

So how will this reform actually affect limited company contractors in the above professions? At the outset of a contract the recruitment agency or public sector employer will decide whether IR35 applies. Currently the onus is on the individual to do this.

If it is determined that a contract falls within IR35, it means the individual is deemed to be an employee for the purposes of tax and National Insurance. The agency or employer will deduct full PAYE tax and NI, as they would for a permanent worker.

If it is determined that a contract falls outside IR35, arrangements will continue as they are today, with company directors being able to pay themselves a combination of salary and dividend and paying corporation tax.

As the liability will fall on the agencies and public sector bodies, if the IR35 status is incorrectly determined, it is likely that they will take a very prudent approach and more people will be caught by IR35 than currently are. Indeed, HMRC have said that they expect most public sector PSCs to be caught by IR35.

At a glance

The below illustrations are based on a £40,000 income and assume the limited company is registered for flat rate VAT.*

Reduced benefit… but still plenty of advantages

While being found to be within IR35 inevitably reduces the tax benefits of operating a limited company, it is important to stress that there are other real positives of contracting in this way.

These will still apply irrespective of the proposed changes:

Current IR35 caught companies claim 5% of income as a business expense through your limited company. HMRC are consulting on whether this will continue.

Your limited company can still be registered for VAT which can increase profits. For example, a company revenue of £40,000, will generate £1040 in additional profit if the company is registered for flat rate VAT (assuming your contract allows you to charge your rate plus VAT and your services are in the scope of VAT).

You will still be able to claim certain business expenses through your company, such as mobile phones or training required by the client.

As a company director you will still be able to take advantage of tax relief on lifestyle benefits such as pensions and life insurance.

Your company is a separate legal entity so your personal finances and assets are protected.

As a professional locum in the public sector, having control of a limited company means that you are perceived as an established business in your own right.

What happens now

The consultation entitled, “Off-payroll working in the public sector: reform of the intermediaries legislation” ran from 26th May to 18th August. It invited views from stakeholders on the perceived impacts of the changes including opinion on a new process for determining IR35 status. Feedback is currently being analysed and the outcome will be publicly available here.

We fully expect a further announcement to be made in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement on 23rd November 2016.

Keeping you updated

Colin Gunnell, Managing Director at Boox, commented: “As a firm of chartered accountants as well as full FCSA members, Boox are at the forefront of understanding regulatory change and its impact on limited company directors. We believe that the upcoming reforms to IR35 are likely to impact most PSC limited company directors who work within the public sector. At Boox we will certainly be in a position to help those affected understand the changes and how they can comply and meet their obligations.”

How we will help

Once the detail of the changes is clear, we will be providing 1-to-1 telephone consultations to all of our clients who are affected, and working with them to decide their best way forward.

For the moment, if you are concerned that you might be caught by IR35, our contractor accounting service includes a high-level IR35 contract review. Alternatively we can put you in touch with someone to conduct a detailed review of your contract and working practices.

For more information see the IR35 Helpline website at http://www.ir35helpline.co.uk

* This is an illustration only and should not be used for any official purposes. These calculations are based on an income of £40,000 at the current year’s tax rates. The net monthly pay takes into account the maximum available amount to distribute to you, after accountant or umbrella fees, all Taxes & NI and any dividend taxes. This ignores any additional income you may have outside this illustration.For Limited Company – Caught By IR35 the illustration assumes that you take the deemed payment as salary and that 5% expense allowance is available (this is under consultation by HMRC and is subject to change).For both Limited Company and Limited Company – Caught By IR35, the illustration assumes that the Company is registered under the flat rate VAT scheme. For the Umbrella calculations, the illustration assumes that the contract is subject to supervision, direction or control and no temporary workplace expenses are available (ie no commuting travel and subsistence).

Written byLynne Gowers

Was this article helpful?

Yes

No

Great. Would you like to sign up for our newslettter?

Simply pop your name and email below and we’ll get you signed up so that you can stay up to date with accounting news.

Please enter a First Name

Please enter a Last Name

Please enter an Email Address

Data protection: We take data very seriously and will not share your details with anyone else. If you wish to receive marketing communications from Boox please tick this box.

You can change your preferences at any stage by clicking on the 'Manage my preferences' link at the bottom of our emails. By continuing, you agree to our Privacy Policy.

How would you like to receive communications?

Phone*

Yes

No

Select Yes or No

Email*

Yes

No

Select Yes or No

SMS*

Yes

No

Select Yes or No

Post*

Yes

No

Select Yes or No

Please Verify Captcha

Disclaimer Although we attempt to ensure that the Information contained in this publication is accurate and up-to-date at the date of publication it may not be comprehensive, we accept no liability for the results of any action taken on the basis of the information they contain and any implied warranties, including but not limited to the implied warranties of satisfactory quality, fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement and accuracy are excluded to the extent that they may be excluded as a matter of law.